A congressional oversight commission is investigating three former ministers in the government of Alan García (2006-2011) in connection with the agreement with a private Israeli security company, Global CST.
The contract, signed secretly in 2009, was for supporting the military in its fight against a remnant of the Maoist guerrilla group Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), active in the Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro river valleys (VRAEM).
(Shining Path was in armed conflict with the state from 1980 to 2000.)
An audit by the comptroller general’s office found that civilian and military authorities had broken laws and regulations in signing the contract with the company, whose founder and director is Israel Ziv, a general in the Israeli army reserve.
After stepping down as minister in October 2008, Garrido joined Global CST in Colombia. The Israeli company was working with the Colombian army which is fighting the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The Colombian contract with Global CST was signed when incumbent President Juan Manuel Santos was defence minister, between 2006 and 2009.
On Apr. 30, 2009, Garrido and Ziv met in Lima with then defence minister Flores Aráoz, to offer him Global CST’s advisory services in the war against the remnant Sendero group operating in the VRAEM.
The following day Ziv met with Contreras, the chief of the Joint Command, who from then on conducted the negotiations with the Israeli firm. (IPS)